--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem lies with us: we've become…" description: "\"The problem lies with us: we've become addicted to experts. We've become addicted to their certainty, their assuredness, their definitiveness, and in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg" --- # The problem lies with us: we've become addicted to… ![“The problem lies with us: we've become addicted to experts. We've become addicted to their certainty, their assuredness, their definitiveness, and in the process, we have ceded our responsibility, substituting our intellect and our intelligence for their supposed words of wisdom.” quote by Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg) > “The problem lies with us: we've become addicted to experts. We've become addicted to their certainty, their assuredness, their definitiveness, and in the process, we have ceded our responsibility, substituting our intellect and our intelligence for their supposed words of wisdom.” [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author warns that over‑reliance on experts erodes personal responsibility and critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Relying too much on experts reduces our own judgment. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent critical thinking. Themes philosophy psychology education expertise responsibility Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - decision making - education reform - leadership development Key Concepts cognitive bias authority dependence intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - When should we trust experts? - How can we balance expertise with personal judgment? A Different Perspective The critique may overlook the necessity of expertise in complex fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addicted/) [Addicted Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addicted-certainty-2474953/) [Addicted Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addicted-experts-2474952/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intellect Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect-intelligence-2474955/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-supposed-1387617/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Substituting Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substituting-intellect-2474954/) [Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words of wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [In essence we have become addicted to the certainty, sureness or sense of security that our faith provides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-booth/in-essence-we-have-become-addicted-to-the-certainty-sureness-or-sense/) [Leo Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-booth/) > [“So this general with the background in intelligence who is supposed to conquer Afghanistan can't even figure out what Rolling Stone is? We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/so-this-general-with-the-background-in-intelligence-who-is-supposed/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“All you have to do is not fuck it up. Is it really that hard?” Was he kidding? Of course it was that hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/all-you-have-to-do-is-not-fuck-it-up-is-it-really-that-hard-was-he/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [I'm addicted to your punishment and you're the master and I am waiting for disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/papa-roach/i-m-addicted-to-your-punishment-and-you-re-the-master-and-i-am/) [Papa Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/papa-roach/) > [Slightly Addicted, my Mind got me trippin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-vanity/slightly-addicted-my-mind-got-me-trippin/) [Indigo Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-vanity/) > [I'm addicted to my BlackBerry. I get made fun of a lot in the writer's room for being on it constantly. I'm a writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-novak/i-m-addicted-to-my-blackberry-i-get-made-fun-of-a-lot-in-the-writer-s/) [BJ Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-novak/) > [Fianlly a wave of reailty swept over my eyes and I was able to see, I wasn't in love with an angle but addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian/fianlly-a-wave-of-reailty-swept-over-my-eyes-and-i-was-able-to-see-i/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian/) > [You know you are addicted to coffee when you still drink it and its over 100\*F outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylee/you-know-you-are-addicted-to-coffee-when-you-still-drink-it-and-its/) [Kylee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylee/) > [Im so addicted to facebook I can log-in with my eyes close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asheya/im-so-addicted-to-facebook-i-can-log-in-with-my-eyes-close/) [Asheya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asheya/) > [Mostly we are addicted to television shows for two reasons; whether it's because we get to connect with the story-line as somewhat similar is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/mostly-we-are-addicted-to-television-shows-for-two-reasons-whether-it/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [“Feeling addicted to an ex makes letting them go excruciatingly hard even when you rationally want to move on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-cortney-warren/feeling-addicted-to-an-ex-makes-letting-them-go-excruciatingly-hard/) [Dr. Cortney Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-cortney-warren/) > [It is like an addiction: I get addicted to performing and touring. I get itchy and think, 'I've got to do this.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-prass/it-is-like-an-addiction-i-get-addicted-to-performing-and-touring-i/) [Natalie Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-prass/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [I love transforming myself constantly because it gives me that 'new' feeling that I'm very much addicted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-mondo/i-love-transforming-myself-constantly-because-it-gives-me-that-new/) [Brad Mondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-mondo/) ## More by Noreena Hertz > [When Apple introduced its game-changing iPhone in 2007, Nokia was caught sleeping on the job. Although it had actually developed an iPhone-style device -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/when-apple-introduced-its-game-changing-iphone-in-2007-nokia-was/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I've become increasingly fascinated with social media to improve on traditional ways of preparing for and predicting the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/i-ve-become-increasingly-fascinated-with-social-media-to-improve-on/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I grew up in a highly political home. My mother was the co-chair of the 300 Group, an organisation whose aim was to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/i-grew-up-in-a-highly-political-home-my-mother-was-the-co-chair-of/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [What about those who help growth indirectly, those who stay at home and look after others - mothers, carers of elderly parents or sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/what-about-those-who-help-growth-indirectly-those-who-stay-at-home/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [We are living in a time in which movies such as 'Super Size Me' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' have made box-office history, and books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/we-are-living-in-a-time-in-which-movies-such-as-super-size-me-and-an/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [We live increasingly in a world of haves and have-nots, of gated communities next to ghettos, of extreme poverty and unbelievable riches. Some enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/we-live-increasingly-in-a-world-of-haves-and-have-nots-of-gated/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [With consumers having ever more choice, corporations must invest more and more in courting public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/with-consumers-having-ever-more-choice-corporations-must-invest-more/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I was really interested to see whether we could make predictions or forecasts by listening in on what people were saying on social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/i-was-really-interested-to-see-whether-we-could-make-predictions-or/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [Things do go wrong. Not everyone benefits from the capitalist dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/things-do-go-wrong-not-everyone-benefits-from-the-capitalist-dream/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [It's actually very surprising how little we think about the quality of our decision-making and how we could improve it. How absent decision-making classes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/it-s-actually-very-surprising-how-little-we-think-about-the-quality/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [Get into the habit of imagining an alternate scenario. By posing such 'imagine if' questions... we can distance ourselves from the frames, cues, anchors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/get-into-the-habit-of-imagining-an-alternate-scenario-by-posing-such/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I really believe in a globalist agenda, but globalization isn't just allowing companies to trade freely all over the world. It's about what types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/i-really-believe-in-a-globalist-agenda-but-globalization-isn-t-just/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [Surely in a world of email, video conferencing and virtual assistants, isn't being expected to show up at the office extremely anachronistic? Yet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/surely-in-a-world-of-email-video-conferencing-and-virtual-assistants/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [My parents decided - because they were not going to teach us anything Jewish at home - to send both me and my sister…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/my-parents-decided-because-they-were-not-going-to-teach-us-anything/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [People are looking for certainty. The more complex the world becomes, the more people look for people to give them certainty and tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/people-are-looking-for-certainty-the-more-complex-the-world-becomes/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) [Explore all 77 Noreena Hertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) ## More Addicted quotes > [I love transforming myself constantly because it gives me that 'new' feeling that I'm very much addicted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-mondo/i-love-transforming-myself-constantly-because-it-gives-me-that-new/) [Brad Mondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-mondo/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [It is like an addiction: I get addicted to performing and touring. I get itchy and think, 'I've got to do this.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-prass/it-is-like-an-addiction-i-get-addicted-to-performing-and-touring-i/) [Natalie Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-prass/) > [“Feeling addicted to an ex makes letting them go excruciatingly hard even when you rationally want to move on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-cortney-warren/feeling-addicted-to-an-ex-makes-letting-them-go-excruciatingly-hard/) [Dr. Cortney Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-cortney-warren/) > [Mostly we are addicted to television shows for two reasons; whether it's because we get to connect with the story-line as somewhat similar is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/mostly-we-are-addicted-to-television-shows-for-two-reasons-whether-it/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [Im so addicted to facebook I can log-in with my eyes close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asheya/im-so-addicted-to-facebook-i-can-log-in-with-my-eyes-close/) [Asheya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asheya/) > [You know you are addicted to coffee when you still drink it and its over 100\*F outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylee/you-know-you-are-addicted-to-coffee-when-you-still-drink-it-and-its/) [Kylee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylee/) > [Fianlly a wave of reailty swept over my eyes and I was able to see, I wasn't in love with an angle but addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian/fianlly-a-wave-of-reailty-swept-over-my-eyes-and-i-was-able-to-see-i/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian/) > [I'm addicted to my BlackBerry. I get made fun of a lot in the writer's room for being on it constantly. I'm a writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-novak/i-m-addicted-to-my-blackberry-i-get-made-fun-of-a-lot-in-the-writer-s/) [BJ Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-novak/) > [Slightly Addicted, my Mind got me trippin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-vanity/slightly-addicted-my-mind-got-me-trippin/) [Indigo Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-vanity/) > [I'm addicted to your punishment and you're the master and I am waiting for disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/papa-roach/i-m-addicted-to-your-punishment-and-you-re-the-master-and-i-am/) [Papa Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/papa-roach/) > [“All you have to do is not fuck it up. Is it really that hard?” Was he kidding? Of course it was that hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/all-you-have-to-do-is-not-fuck-it-up-is-it-really-that-hard-was-he/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [Collectors become obsessive and then addicted. You become addicted to art and you can't live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/collectors-become-obsessive-and-then-addicted-you-become-addicted-to/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Yes, I'm a complete itinerant. I keep making attempts not to be, but then circumstances make me uproot and go somewhere else again. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/yes-i-m-a-complete-itinerant-i-keep-making-attempts-not-to-be-but/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) [Browse all 541 Addicted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addicted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem lies with us: we've become addicted to experts. We've become addicted to their certainty, their assuredness, their definitiveness, and in the process, we have ceded our responsibility, substituting our intellect and our intelligence for their supposed words of wisdom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noreena Hertz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-addicted-to-experts-we-ve/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Addicted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-addicted-to-experts-we-ve/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/noreena-hertz-8858_addicted_the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-ad_2667236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem lies with us: we've become addicted to experts. We've become addicted to their certainty, their…” — Noreena Hertz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Noreena Hertz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem lies with us: we've...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-addicted-to-experts-we-ve/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/the-problem-lies-with-us-we-ve-become-addicted-to-experts-we-ve/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```